Motor vehicle engine control



May 12, 1936. A, SUMMERS 2,040,716

MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE CONTROLl 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1935 ,E56 ../LJumr/Lens,

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VW ATTORNEY May l2,l 1936. L. A. sulvlMEr- MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June '7, 1955 "0 *s IIIIIIIIII Illll 4 C E L KA 70K PEDL s s E N H W Patented May 12, i936 PATENT OFFICE Moron vEmcLE IENGINE co Lee Albert Summers, Wasgton, D. C.

Application .lune 7, i935, Serial No. 25.525

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invention relates to a motor vehicle engine control and more particularly to a device for operating in conjunction with the conventional controls of the motor vehicle which consists of the f usual accelerator, clutch pedal and the transmission high gear and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will in no way change the present method of driving the motor vehicle and which will automatically cut od the entire flow of fuel 'to the engine and simultaneously turn oi the ignition when the motor vehicle is traveling under its momentum with the accelerator positioned to admit only sumcient iuel for the running of the engine at idling speed so that the engine will lack fuel and permit the full compression of the engine to be had for slowing down of the motor vehicle and for aiding in cooling the engine and the device automatically turns on the ignition and restores fuel to the en= gine for idling of the latter when the clutch of the vehicle is disengaged or the transmission is in neutral or any gear except high gear, whereby the motor vehicle may be ,brought to a full stop with the engine idling.

With these and other objects in view, this inn' vention consists in certain .novel features of cons struction, combination and arrangement of parts to he hereinafter more y, fully descrihed and claimed.,

For a `complete understanding of my invention, reference is to he had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in winch Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the motor vehicle engine and converts tional controls therefor and illustrating my ines vention adapted thereto with the clutch pedal shown in a depressed position and the accelerator in an on position or a position for admittinglsum cient fuel to the engine for idling purposes..

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a self-closing valve opened by suction and forming a part oi my invention, being located hetween the carburetor and the intake manifold of the engine.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view show ing the valve and the circuit hreairer ofl the'im tion system associated therewith.

Figure d is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l-d of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view talren on the line of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the valve positioned for admitting air from the atmosphere to the intake manifold.

Figure 'l is a diagrammatical-view showing the valve of my invention electrically actuated.

Figures is a detail sectional view showing one of the control valves of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral i indicates a fragmentary portion oi an engine of a motor vehicle having an intake manifold 2 and a carbureter t provided with a control valve t urged into engine idling speed by a spring ti. The vcontrol valve is actuated by an accelerator t andthe latter is urged into valve-closing position by a spring l. The link d which connects the valve d to the accelerator t includes in its construction a pin and slot connection d which will permit the accelerator d to have a limited movement prior to Aurging the valve t towards open position.

The character i t indicates a clutch pedal of the motor vehicleto which the engine l is installed and the clutch pedal is shown in a depressed position in- Figure l. `for the purpose of disengaging the clutch.

The character ii indicates the conventional type oi' transmission employed in the motor ver* hicle with a part of the high gear mechanism shown at i2. The foregoing briey sets forth a motor vehicle construction and to which my inn vention is adapted.

A valve housing lil is mounted between the carburetor t and the intake manifold i and is providedwith oppositely arranged ports id communicative with the carburetor andthe intake manifold. A valve element it is slidably mounted in the housing it and has a port iti which when aligned with the ports it permits fuel 'to passfrorn the carhureter to the intaire manifold; The valve housing .is provided" with a vent opening il open to the atmosphere and which is closed to the interior of the housing by the valve eleun ment it when the latter is positioned to align the port it thereof with the ports ifi oi the valve housing. .a chamber is formed in the valve element and is normailyout of communication with the vent opening il hut may Ice positioned to communicate with said vent opening and with the intake manifold so that the engine may draw air into its cylinders directly from the atmosphere when the valve element is positioned to lering the port it out oi registration with the ports td which 'interrupts or cuts off dow of fuel from the carbureter to the engine. A spring i@ is connected to the valve element and tothe housing and acts to position the valve element so that the port l@ thereof aligns with lthe ports it. The valve elem ment is limited in its movement under the action of the spring i@ hy a stop 2t. The valve element snugly nts the walls of the housing and forms he tween one end thereof and one end of the housing a suction chamber il having connected thereto a pipe 22 which is in turn connected to the intatte manifold. Located in the pipe are'valves 23, 2d, and 25. The valve 25 is connected to the clutch pedal by a link 2t. valve it and to a slidahly mounted pin 2d located adjacent to the transmission ii. The pin 2li is A linlr 2l is connected to the the acceleratonis depressed to move the valve 4 Thus it will be seen that towards an open position for increasing the speed of the engine over idling speed, the initial movement of the accelerator inthe stated direction brings about closing of the valve 24. The clutch pedal when positioned to engage the clutch opens the valve 23 and when positioned to disengage the clutch closes the valve 25.

My invention equipped to an automobile as heretofore described, will in no waychange the customary manner of driving by speed of the engine being increased by depressing the accelerator and the slowing ldown of the engine being brought about by the elevation of the accelerator. Itis to be understood that when the accelerator is in full elevated position, the carbureter valve 4 admits a limited amount of fuel to the engine sumcient to maintain the engine running at idling speed. This is commonin all motor vehicle construction. A

The valves 2324, and 25 whenin position to close the chamber 2l to the intake manifoldwill open said chamber to the atmosphere. These valves are of the three-way type and valve 25 is shown in detail in Figure 8. The valves 23 and 24 are of the same construction as the valve\25.

The operation of my invention in connection with a` motor vehicle will be as follows:

First, when the engine is running at idling speed andwwlth. either -the clutch disengaged or the transmission in neutral, the pipe 22 will be closed preventing the suction in the manifold from acting on the valve element Il, the spring I3 maintaining the valve to align the ports I4 and I3 so that fuel from the carbureter may pass to the engine for sustaining operation of the engine at idling speed. The transmission being placed in eitherlow, second or reverse gear will have no effect on the'present invention so that the changing of gears in the starting of the vehicle may be as usual. However, when the transmission is in high gear the valve 23 is open. When the clutch is engaged lfor connecting the transmission to the engine. the valve 23 is open. The accelerator when at idling speed opens the valve 24 and closes said valve 24 on its initial movement to open the carbureter valve 4 so that as long as the engine is acting to propel the vehicle suction from the intake manifold is interrupted to the suction chamber 2|. However, when the motor vehicle descends a grade and the accelerator is allowed to elevate into a position for obtaining idling speed to the engine, the valve 24 is opened and as the valves 23 and 25 are opened the suction in the manifold acts on the valve element I5 to bring the chamber I8 in communication with the vent and the intake manifold cutting off the entire supply of fuel from the carbureter to the engine so that the full compression .of the engine c may be utilized for slowing down the vehicle. As the valve moves into said position by the suction of the engine it automatically breaks the ignition circuit through rthe operation of a switch 29'. during the slowing down of the vehicle by the compression of the engine fuel will be conserved as well aselectrical energy of the electrical source. 4As the engine is now the operator, the

gine will more rapidly cool.

to remain standing forja -connected in an electric f automatically operating operating under the influence of the momentum of the vehicle with no explosion therein said en- It is customary in driving a motor vehicle Ato disengage a clutch just before the motor vehicle stops and the disengagement of the clutch closes the valve 23, thus cutting off the suction in the intake manifold to the chamber 2| permitting the spring I9 to restore the valve Il to its initial position, thereby establishing communication between the carbureter and the intake manifold so that fuel may be drawn into the engine '.to maintain the engine@ operating at idling speed. If the automobile is length of time it is customary to place the transmission in neutral and so doing permits the spring 23 ofthe pin 28 to act and slide said pin for bringing about closing of the valve 23. The clutch may then be engaged as usual. However, the suction of the intake manifold of' the engine will be prevented from the housing and electrically connected in the ignition circuit andl are bridged by a movable contact 3| secured to the valve element Il when the latter is in its normal position or the position of establishing communication of the carbureter to the intake manifold.

While I have described the operation of the valve element Il through the suction of the engine and mechanical construction connected with the accelerator, clutch pedal and transmission, the valve element may be electrically actuated as suggested or shown in Figure '1. In this figure a portion of the valve element is in the form of a core 33 and to which is connected the movable contact 3| of the switch 23'. The core 33 operates in a solenoid 34 and the latter is electrically circuit 35 having an electrical source 33. ISwitches 31, 33, and 39 are arranged in the circuit and the switch 31 is operatively connected to the pin 23 ofv the transmission while the switch 33 is operatively connected to the'accelerator and the switch 33 is operatively connected to the clutch pedal. The solenoid when energized acts on the core 33 to position the valve element I3l so as to interrupt the flow of fuel to the engine from the carbureter. The deenerglzation of the solenoid 34 permits the spring I3 to restore the valve element Il to its initial position and thereby restore communication between the carbureter and the intake manifold. Theinterruption or breaking of the circuit 3l maybe caused either by the disengagement of the clutch, the accelerator moving into position for closing the mission assuming neutral variable speed positions its the position or any of except high gear,

at this time. N

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a control for location a feed of a .carbureter to an linternal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for normally opening said feed to the engine and adapted to establish communication of the atmosphere with said feed when thelatter is'shut oi by said control, means said control for actuatcarbureter valve 4 or the transamarre ing the same from normal feeding position, and means operated by an accelerator, clutch and a medium of a transmission for regulating said iirst means.

2. The combination of a control for location in a feed of a carbureter to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for normally opening' said feed to the engine and adapted to establish communication of fthe atmosphere with said feed when the latter is shut off by said control, means automatically operating said control for actuating the same from normal feeding position, means operated by an accelerator, clutch and a medium of a transmission for regulating said rst means, and means coacting with said control for controlling the ignition of the engine.

3. The combination of a control for location in a feed of a carbureter to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for normally opening said feed to the engine and adapted to establish communication of the atmosphere with said feed when the latter is shut olf by said control, means automatically operating said control for actuating the same from normal feeding position, means operated by an accelerator, clutch and a medium of a transmission for regulating said rst means, means coacting with said control for controlling the ignition of the engine, and a tension element connected to said control for urging the latter into feeding position.

4. The combination'of acontrol for location in a feed of a carbureter to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for normally opening said feed to the engine and adapted to establish communication of the atmosphere with said feed when the latter is shut oil by said control, means automatically operating said control for actuating the same from normal feeding position, means operated by an accelerator, clutch and a medium of a transmission for regulating said rst means, means coacting with said control for controlling the ignition of the engine, a tension element connected to said control for urging the latter into feeding position, and opening and closing valves included in said second named means.

' 5. The combination of a valve for location in a feed of a carbureter to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for normally opening said feed to the engine and adapted to establish communication of the atmosphere with said feed when the latter is shut off by said valve, means automatically operating said valve for actuating the same from normal feeding position, means operated by an accelerator, clutch and a medium of a transmission for regulating said first means, means coacting with said valve for controlling the ignition of the engine, a tension element connected to said valve for urging the latter into feeding position, opening and closing valves included in said second-named means, and

a housing included in said feed and having the rst valve slidable therein.

6. The combination of a valve for location in a feed of a carbureter to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for normally opening said feed to the engine and adapted to establish communication of the atmospherel with said feed when the latter is shut olf by said valve, means automatically operating said valve for actuating the same from normal feeding position, means operated by an accelerator, clutch and a medium of a transmission for regula-ting said iirst means, means coacting lwith said valve for controlling the ignition of the engine, a tension element connected to said valve for urging the latter into feeding position, opening and closing valves included in said second-named means, and a housing included in said Vfeed and having the first valve slidable therein, said housing having a ventto the atmosphere, said first valve having a chamber for coaction with the vent to communicate the feed to the atmosphere.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a fuel intake manifold and a carbureter connected thereto and an-accelerator for said carbureter and a clutch pedal and transmission of the motor vehicle, a valve located in the intake manifold and normally admitting fuel from the carbureter to said intake manifold and adapted to communicate the latter with the atmosphere when positioned to close the-intake manifold to said carbureter, means acting to position said valve to connect the carbureter to the intake manifold, and means for moving said valve into a position to close. the carbureter to the intake manifold connected to the accelerator, clutch pedal and transmission.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a fuel intake manifold and a carbureter connected thereto and an accelerator for said carbureter, and a lclutch pedal and transmission of the motor vehcle, a valve located in the intake manifold and normally admitting fuel from the carbureter to said manifold and adapted to communicate the latter with the atmosphere when positioned to close said intake manifold to the carbureter, said valve having a suction chamber for effecting operation of the valve, a pipe connecting the suction chamber to the intake manifold, opening and closing valves in said pipe, and means connecting said opening and closing valves to the accelerator, clutch pedal and transmissionA for the actuation of the latter-named valves to control the suction from the manifold to the suction chamber, and means acting to position said first valve to connect the carbureter to the intake manifold.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a fuel intake manifold and a carbureter connnected thereto, and an accelerator for said carbureter and a clutch and transmission of the motor vehicle, a valve located in the intake manifold and normally admitting fuel from the carbureter to said intake manifold and adapted to communicate the latter with the atmosphere when in a position to close the intake manifold to the carbureter, spring means for actuating the valve to establish communication between the carbureter and the intake manifold, electrical means for operating the valve to shut the carbureter to the y intake manifold and communicate the latter to the atmosphere and including an electric circuit and electrical source, switches located in said circuit and operatively connected to said ac-` celerator, clutch pedal and transmission whereby said circuit may be opened and closed by the actuation of the accelerator, clutch pedal and transmission.

LEE ALBERT SUMMERS. 

